Brunching at The Gastro Project, Sect.17 Petaling Jaya

Come weekends, you can now head on over to The Gastro Project in Section 17 Petaling Jaya for a long lazy meal, aka Brunch! Since the brunch trend hit the scene here in the Klang Valley, cafes and restaurants have jumped onto the bandwagon trying to outdo each other in coming out with the best brunch offerings.

One of the latest restaurants to do that is The Gastro Project (read my earlier review of the place here). The brunch menu is not really extensive, there are only 11 items on it, with prices ranging from RM17.90 to RM29.90.

Fluffy Pancakes with maple syrup, berry compote and Chantilly cream

If you are the kind who likes to start off brunch with something sweet, there are 2 such items on the menu. There’s the Fluffy Pancakeswith maple syrup, berry compote and Chantilly cream (RM17.90) and the Home-made French Toast spread with kaya and sprinkled with toasted almonds (RM19.90). Nothing very outstanding – pancakes and toast with kaya are pretty much run-of-the-mill and in fact, easily prepared at home.

Home-made French Toast spread with kaya and sprinkled with toasted almonds

The next 3 items are at RM19.90 and my money goes to the Baked Eggs with Spinach & Mushrooms. Although there’s no meat in the little ramekin, the flavors and texture turn out very well here.

Baked Eggs with Spinach & Mushrooms

For a little “oomph”, there’s another version of the baked eggs with spicy sausages. The baked eggs are served with slices of garlic toast by the side.

Baked eggs with spicy sausages

The Spicy Chicken Curry Pie with Cucumber Raita was rather uninspiring. Made with puff pastry, it’s not something I would order for brunch… it’s more like something I’d pick up from a pastry shop and eat on-the-go.

Spicy Chicken Curry Pie with Cucumber Raita

I found the Chicken and Avocado Salad wrapped in flatbread rather interesting and would be something the health-conscious would go for, if only it wasn’t served with fries. The combination of fries with wraps is rather odd. A fresh salad by the side would have made a better accompaniment, I felt.

Chicken and Avocado Salad wrapped in flatbread

I’m not a fan of yoghurt so the Greek-style Yoghurt layered with toasted muesli, berry compote and sliced bananas didn’t do much for me. Served in a drinking glass just off the halfway mark, I felt RM21.90 is rather steep for that portion.

To be honest, I didn’t quite like the Turkey Bacon and Mushrooms Short-crust Tart (RM21.90) – the tart pastry was hard and unyielding. Short-crust pastry can be temperamental, so perhaps the pastry didn’t quite behave that day.

Turkey Bacon and Mushrooms Short-crust Tart

For a touch of Middle Eastern taste, the Lamb Kebabs with Flatbread, Olives & Tomato Pesto (RM25.90) would seem familiar.

Lamb Kebabs with Flatbread, Olives & Tomato Pesto

Sometimes it’s best to stick to the familiar and the Smoked Salmon, Avocado, Poached Egg with Hollandaise Sauce on Toasted Baguette (RM29.90), although kinda miniscule, hits the spot. The poached egg was suitably runny.

If you are yearning for something local, there’s even a Nasi Lemak on the menu, served with Fried Chicken, Prawn Sambal and the regular condiments.

Diners can add orange juice/tea/coffee for only RM3 with any brunch menu meal. This brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am till 3pm.

Not many may know that The Gastro Project actually has a spacious upstairs that’s suitable for private functions. It can comfortably seat 40 pax there. If you’re thinking of holding a private event there, perhaps you may want to consider serving their range of new drinks – they have just launched a new drinks menu with some very eye-catching mocktails and cocktails.